2002

Directed by Robert Currier

We had long wanted to try our hand at a holiday panto. Bob had introduced me to this delicious form of English holiday entertainment while traveling in the U.K., and we both loved the vitality of spirit these fun shows created across generations, their inclusiveness, their topicality. The energy of the panto felt to us like a direct descendent of the energy that must have existed at the Globe in Shakespeare’s day. And of course, the style of wacky humor was right up Bob’s directoral alley.

An amazing woman – Luce Mercer – allowed our dream of a panto to come true. Luce purchased the old Odd Fellows Hall in downtown Mill Valley and through sheer force of will (and tremendous infusions of her own time, energy and cash), was turning it into a premiere performance location which today hosts all sorts of comedy shows, play readings, benefits and musical events. At that time, Luce was eager to try out any sort of performance and, bless her heart, she offered the space to us for free.